There are about 250 species in this genus (deWit 1967), with 4 species in Australia, all found in the north-eastern rainforests (Nicholson and Nicholson 1994).

The small flowers are actually inside often large colourful bracts. T

he musty smelling flowers attract bats (deWit 1967).

The genus is named after the French Commander Louis-Claude de Freycinet who visited Australia in 1817 (van Raders 199-).

Three of the Australian climbing pandans have long leaves, including: Freycinetia excelsa, found in the tropical and subtropical rainforest along the Australian coast from northern NSW to Cape York and then in New Guinea, Freycinetia marginata, found on Cape York and Freycinetia perocostata, found in the rainforest north of the Daintree (van Raders 199-).

The fourth Australian climbing Pandan, Freycinetia scandens, has leaves that are small, short and rounded in shape.

It is found in tropical rainforest along the northern half of Australia's east coast and into New Guinea (Nicholson and Nicholson 2000).